Grossan Hydro Pulse

After reading on a blog and reviews on amazon.com about a device that will irrigate the sinuses, I asked for one as a gift. When I received it, I was apprehensive about shooting a stream of water up my nose. So it was placed in the bathroom cabinet.

This weekend I started feeling pretty bad and seem to have to blow my nose constantly. So when getting ready for bed I decided now is the time to wash out my sinuses. I found the manufacturers website at http://www.hydromedonline.com/index.html

They now have a video of girl using the device so it did not seem so bad. I found the packet of powder which seems like salt (package contents: sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, xylitol, calcium chloride, potassium chloride). I got some distilled water, poured it in the container to the 500 cc mark and heated it in the microwave for about 45 seconds. I then mixed in the containers packet.

I got the pump going in the bathroom and tested that water would come out about an inch from the nozzle. I put it up to my left nostril and felt the water slowly move up my nose and then maybe somewhere into my forehead. Water then started to pour out my other nostril. It was a somewhat odd view but it seemed to work. After about 15 seconds, I switched to the other nostril. The water did not seem to flow as well, so I stopped the pump and weakly blew my nose. I then started the pump again and water eventual came out the opposite nostril.

The experience left me with cleaned out feeling and the nose did not feel like it needed to be blown out. So the reviews I had been reading seemed legitimate.

I now need to figure out the contents of the packets: the sodium chloride (NaCl)is table salt, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is baking soda, potassium chloride (KCl) not sure if there is a household product for this, calcium chloride (CaCl) I think this is used a de-icer on the roads but it cannot be bought as a cooking ingredient and Xylitol is a sweetener used in gums but has been shown to help prevent infections in the ear.